Govt invites bids for giga-scale ACC battery manufacturing facilities with 10 GWh capacity
New Delhi, July 15
The government on Wednesday invited bids to pick up beneficiaries for establishing giga-scale Advanced Chemistry Cell manufacturing facilities with a cumulative capacity of 10 GWh in India.
The capacity is earmarked for Grid-Scale Stationary Storage (GSSS) applications under the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for ACC Battery Storage.
Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) said it has released the Request for Proposal (RFP) for inviting bids through a global tender. The bidding process will be conducted online through a transparent two-stage Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) mechanism on the Central Public Procurement (CPP) Portal.
"The tender documents are available from July 15, 2026. Pre-bid conference shall be held on July 29, 2026 and the last date for submission of bids is October 13, 2026. Technical bids shall be opened on October 14 2026," according to an official statement.
Under the PLI ACC scheme, out of the targeted ACC capacity of 50 GWh, 40 GWh capacity has been awarded to domestic manufacturers.
The 10 GWh Capacity earmarked for "Grid Scale Stationary Storage" application will support the country's growing energy storage requirements arising from rapid renewable energy deployment, strengthening energy security, reducing import dependence, and developing a globally competitive battery manufacturing ecosystem, said the ministry.
In May 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the PLI Scheme on "National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage", with a total budgetary outlay of Rs 18,100 crore for achieving ACC manufacturing capacity of 50 GWh in the country.
The scheme aims to reduce India's dependence on imported ACCs by strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities and incentivising large domestic and international players to establish a globally competitive ACC battery-manufacturing ecosystem in the country.
In a bid to reduce dependence on Asian countries for lithium-ion batteries and other basic requirements, a total of 40 GWh ACC capacity was awarded to four beneficiary firms, and the projects were under implementation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative, but I'm a bit skeptical. The last PLI for ACCs—40 GWh awarded to 4 firms—are those projects even on track? Implementation has been slow. We need transparent timelines and accountability. Also, hope the bidding process includes some checks for environmental impact from battery manufacturing. Not just 'make in India' but 'make sustainably in India'. 🙂
As someone working in the energy sector, this is a promising step. Grid-scale storage is crucial for India's renewable targets—solar and wind are intermittent. The Rs 18,100 crore outlay shows commitment. But let's see if the global tender actually brings in cutting-edge tech or if it ends up being a race to the bottom on costs. Either way, India needs to move fast.
Finally! Our grid suffers from frequent fluctuations, especially in rural areas. Battery storage can be a game-changer for integrating solar power in villages. Just hope this doesn't become another 'paper scheme'. The pre-bid conference in July 2026 is too far—why not faster? India loses time while China adds gigafactories every month. 😐
Very positive development! The focus on 'Grid Scale Stationary Storage' is exactly what we need—not just for electric vehicles but for stabilizing the entire power system. With 50 GWh target, we can reduce lithium-ion import dependence substantially. But we must also invest in recycling infrastructure from day one. Arre, government should also push for sodium-ion or solid-state alternatives—don't put all eggs in lithium basket! 😊
Interesting to see India
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